W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com
Issue 8:06 6,109 subscribers June 5, 2008
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SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages sent in reply to the newsletter are deleted. See the
bottom of this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editors.
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CONTENTS
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The Editor's Desk THE INQUIRING WRITER, by Dawn Copeman
FEATURE: Using Footpower to Boost Your Brainpower:
How Walking Away Can Improve Your Writing, by Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
BOOK REVIEWS, by Dawn Copeman
FEATURE: Do Werewolves Wear Shoes? by Shaunna Privratsky C
OMING UP NEXT
MONTH IN WRITING-WORLD
WRITING CONTESTS with no entry fees
The Author's Bookshelf
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CHILDREN'S WRITERS COMPETITIVE EDGE. Monthly newsletter of editors' current wants and needs--up to 50 each
month. Plus market studies and genre analyses loaded with editors' tips and insights into subjects and writing styles they're looking
for right now. Get a Free Issue and see for yourself.
http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/M1234
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AN EASY SIX FIGURE INCOME... WRITING Imagine a job in which you set your own hours, and live where you please: at
the beach, in the mountains, in Paris. As a copywriter, you can. I know. I spend my summers "working" from home in a
picture-perfect Vermont country village. Here's how I learned the secrets of this writing market:
http://www.thewriterslife.com/easy/wworld/
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
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The sap is rising
------------------
In the UK, unlike in America, spring and summer are not easily definable. Last year, for example, we had the hottest weather
of the year in April and then never saw the sun again all year.
This year, so far, we seem to be having a 'traditional' spring and summer, trees are in blossom, flowers are growing and
everything seems full of life and hope, including people's faces as they look forward to a nice summer.
Creatively speaking, this is perhaps, one of the most challenging times of year as we get tempted to spend more time outside
enjoying the weather, rather than inside writing. Yet the changing season can also fill us with new energy, hope and determination for
our writing.
It is for this reason that I always take time in late spring/early summer to review my writing goals and my writing plan. It can be
too easy to set goals in January and then just drift along. So if you have made a plan, now is the time to actively review it and see how
well you are progressing. It might be the case that you need to fine-tune your plan to take into account any changes in your situation
since you defined your writing goals. Take a few hours now to ensure your writing is going to plan.
But because it can be hard to be inside in such (rare in the UK) nice weather, in a change to our planned issue, I've called upon
Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant to show us how to get out in the fresh air and still not neglect our creative side.
Until next time,
-- Dawn Copeman, Newsletter Editor
If you need help constructing a writing plan, visit:
Planning Your Writing Career, by Dawn Copeman
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/dawn08.shtml
Setting Effective Writing Goals, by Moira Allen
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/goals.shtml
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THE INQUIRING WRITER
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By Dawn Copeman
Last month I asked if you had any problems or questions that you would like to put to our writing community, and Marion
responded with the following problem.
"I have submitted a number of my novels to both literary agencies and publishing houses and got back the same
response...something I am not sure I understand. The same comment has been laid at my doorstep by all in regards to queries and
cover letters accompanying samples of my work. They tell me they can't accept my book because they don't have a market for it. They
further suggest that I should more or less infer myself what market they should place it in. I wonder why these people have a job.
"I was under the mistaken impression, I guess, that they were the ones trained to work in the publishing industry who have
some idea of what market it should be in. It used to be that a manuscript would catch the attention of somebody who saw potential
profits in the future for a new and fresh approach not a cloned re-write of someone' else's work that defines the market. What
happened to originality?
"Personally I don't have the time or money to buy and read what someone else has written in my
genre...my genre is the same
market as their own. Why would I want to write like them? I am too focused on writing like me.
"Anyway am I misunderstanding what they meant or am I getting too wound up about this? It gets pretty daunting when the
same thing keeps getting implied. What is a market for my book? Is it the genre they are referring to or a reworked idea?"
What do you think? Do you have any advice for Marion or have you had similar responses? If so, what did you do? Email your
responses to me at
editorial@writing-world.com with the subject line Inquiring Writer.
Dawn
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SCREENWRITERS NEWSFLASH ANNOUNCEMENTS. An Important Message from FILM LITERARY GROUP.COM.
Dear Writers: Now that the WGA strike has ended, it's time to dust off your screenplays and move forward to a brighter future. FLG is
busy re-grouping with film distributors and independent producers actively seeking material for upcoming productions. The company
is continuing to help new and established writers develop their screenplays through extensive script analysis and story notes. Once
again, they've resumed submitting packaged screenplays to motion picture companies, executive producers and independent
production companies. Get ready to pursue a successful screenwriting career. Take a proactive stance and review their Website
http://www.filmliterarygroup.com or contact 310/556-2040.
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
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BBC exposes security flaw on Facebook
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Many writers are on Facebook. It is a great site to network, to join groups of other writers and to have fun. However, the BBC
has discovered a serious security flaw hidden in those 'harmless' games and applications that can be added to your Facebook page.
They've discovered how they can be used to gather not only your personal details, but also those of every one of your friends listed on
your page. For more information visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7376738.stm
E-Book Sales On Increase In Us
------------------------------
Book sales are on the rise in America with Penguin confirming that they sold more e-books in the first quarter of 2008 than in
the whole of 2007. Simon & Schuster, who enjoyed e-book sales of $1 billion in 2007, is also expecting sales to increase by 40% this
year and has decided to release an additional 5000 titles in e-book format. Many believe the popularity of the e-book is linked to the
new Kindle e-book reader by Amazon. For more information on this story and to learn the history of the e-book, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/622exc
Spam is 30 years old
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Staying with the internet, spam email celebrated, if that is the word, its 30th birthday on May 3rd. The first spam message was
sent on the 3rd May 1978 to 400 people over the Arpanet - the forerunner to the internet. Today, according to the FBI, 75% of scams
operate via spam and spammers earned over $239m (£121m) from these scams in 2007. More worryingly is the fact that up to 85%
of all emails sent each day are spam. For more information on this visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7380788.stm
More Problems for Bloomsbury
------------------------------
Last month we reported how many authors are leaving Bloomsbury over concerns that the publisher is not spending enough
time promoting their books. Now the publisher has had to delay publication of a major new biography of a mistress of Louis XIV
when it was revealed that the main source used by the author, Veronica Buckley, was in fact a work of fiction. Buckley had based
most of her work on Madame de Maintenon on a diary she believed to have been written by the Sun King. It turns out, however, that
this diary was in fact a work of fiction by a French historian that was published ten year's ago. She is now re-writing the book and it is
scheduled for publication in July. For more information visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7373640.stm
Faber And Faber Use Pod To Revive Lost Classics
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Faber and Faber have turned to print-on-demand (POD) technology to bring lost but loved books back into print. The new
imprint Faber Finds, launched on June 2, specialises in classics that have, due to the pressures of the modern publishing industry,
gone out of print. For more information on this novel approach by a major publisher visit:
http://tinyurl.com/5vqorj
007 gives Penguin their fastest selling book
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A new James Bond story, 'Devil May Care', written by Sebastian Faulks has become Penguin's fasting selling hardback book.
44,093 copies were sold in the first four days after publication. Previous best-sellers by Penguin, such as works by Tom Clancy, Nick
Hornby and Dick Francis sold 11,500 copies over the same period. For more information visit:
http://tinyurl.com/5fph5y
Newbie-Writers Makes Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites
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Our sister site,
http://www.newbie-writers.com has been listed in Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites 2008. See the rest of the
sites here:
http://tinyurl.com/56hkjl
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The Author's Repair Kit is a NEW ebook designed to help you breathe new life into your faltering or failing book. Use Patricia
Fry's post-publication book proposal system and heal your publishing mistakes. The Author's Repair Kit, only 27 pages: $5.95.
http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html.
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FEATURE: Using Footpower to Boost Your Brainpower: How Walking Away Can Improve Your Writing
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By Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant
How many times have you found yourself sitting at your desk in front of a blank computer screen trying to will a creative
thought to leap from your vacant mind to your willing fingers and onto the page? Don't just take writer's block sitting down - get up
and do something about it. Specifically, walk away.
Walking is not only great exercise; it boasts a number of benefits to those who write for a living. The first is obvious: getting
outside your physical box (whether it's an office, a cubicle, a laundry room, or the tool shed in the back yard) helps get you outside
your mental box. The simple change of scenery can help stimulate new thoughts you'd never have come up with when trying to force
yourself to be creative inside your box.
A second advantage, and it's major, is that walking is aerobic and the definition of aerobic is "Occurring only in the presence of
oxygen." Your brain needs all the oxygen it can get in order for it to function efficiently, but gravity has other ideas. When you spend
most of your day sitting down the majority of your blood and your oxygen tend to pool in your backside, not in your brain. Aerobic
activity helps move the blood and oxygen to all your major organs, including your brain and heart, both of which are vital to good
writing.
Not to mention that simply getting more exercise can be a big plus for writers because the act of sitting hunched over a
computer keyboard or a typewriter (or a rock and a stick), can cause significant physical problems. If you have back pain, shoulder
problems, or carpal tunnel syndrome, the more time you spend in an upright position, the better.
Last, but not least, when you walk away from your desk, you also walk away from your phone, fax, and e-mail. I recommend
you not take any of these with you, especially your fax machine. The sense of freedom this gives you can be a big boost to your
productivity. While out walking, you aren't constantly interrupted by distractions that add to your workload and detract from your
writing.
Okay, now that you're convinced that hitting the road may be just the ticket to a better writing career, here are some tips to
make your trip a good one.
1. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and a lightweight, digital, hand-held recorder. The latter is a lot less expensive than it
used to be and you can get one with individual file folder capability that lets you store different ideas in different folders. This makes
it easier to organize your thoughts and transcribe them when you get back. If you are, for example, working on a magazine article, a
screenplay, and your cat's memoir, you can flip back and forth between the files on your recorder and keep everything straight.
2. Make sure that you transcribe your thoughts as soon as you get home. Not only does the recorder capture the content of your
ideas, but also the level of energy and passion behind them. If you wait too long, you may lose that.
3. Prepare before you go. Don't just lace up your shoes and do a brain dump while you walk around the block - have a plan.
Decide beforehand the topics or projects you're going to work on while you walk. This helps give you focus and keeps your writing
on track.
4. If you have a dog or dogs you regularly walk, try to do that separately. There's a tendency when walking dogs to get caught
up in what they're eating or digging up, and in interactions with people who stop to comment on how cute they are. This can distract
you from your writing goals. Bonus: You get two walks a day.
5. Don't combine your writing walk with other errands, such as hiking to the grocery store for a few necessities. If you walk to
the store and on the way home have to lug a half gallon of milk and a bag of kitty litter, the sheer difficulty of the journey back will
discourage you from going out again.
6. Vary your routes. Just as you don't want every paragraph you write to end up at the same place, neither should your walks.
Different scenery brings with it different sounds, smells, sights and thoughts.
7. Keep a spare pair of batteries in your pocket - It's very discouraging thing to be carried away with ideas while walking, only
to see that "battery dead" light flashing. To me it's tantamount to seeing a "creativity dead" light.
8. If other ideas come your way during the walk that are not part of your writing plan, things like groceries you need or chores
that have to be done when you get back, go ahead and purge those from your brain to your recorder. You don't want nagging thoughts
about what needs to be done in your "real life" to get in the way of your creative flow.
9. Pick a pace that works best for your creative process. For some, walking slowly and methodically allows them to think
things through, while for others, too slow provides too much distraction. "Oooh, look at the pretty flowers, I never noticed this house
was purple and lime. I wonder what smells so bad..." On the other hand a very rapid face can leave you out of breath and you'll sound
more like an obscene phone caller than a writer when you play back what's on the recorder.
10. Avoid heavily travelled areas. You may be unaware of the street noise when you're walking and talking, but it can be a real
annoyance if you get home and can't hear yourself over the traffic. Take this as a good reminder to always hold your recorder close to
your mouth so that you are louder than the ambient noise.
11. Exercise appropriate levels of caution while exercising outside. Just because you're living in your head in the moment,
doesn't mean you're not also living in the real world. Don't walk when the "Don't walk" light is flashing, be careful of bicycles on bike
paths, wear brightly colored clothing instead of your old gray bathrobe, etc.
12. If you live in a rainy climate like I do, don't let a few showers stifle your creativity. Simply tuck your recorder in a baggy
and hit the road.
13. Even of you can't squeeze in a walk every day, at least use it as one of your tools when you're feeling uncreative and stifled.
It sure beats drinking or surfing the Internet to see how the latest American Idol contestants are doing.
Go ahead, put on a pair of walking shoes and take your creativity for a test drive. And instead of measuring your success with a
pedometer that measures the number or steps you take, use your digital recorder to measure the number of words you wrote.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<< Copyright (c) 2008 by Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant
Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant is an award-winning humor writer, speaker, stand-up comic, and comedy coach. She is the author
of thirteen books, including I'm Not Getting Older (I'm Getting Better at Denial), Yoga for Your Funny Bone, Laugh Lines are
Beautiful, Bedtime Stories for Cats, Bedtime Stories for Dogs and Don't Get Mad, Get Funny. Her articles have been published in
such major magazines as Family Circle, DogFancy, Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens' Special
Interest publicatons. She is the host of Women Under the Influence of Laughter on KOPT 1600 AM (
http://www.kopt.com). Her
website is
http://www.accidentalcomic.com. And yes, she wrote this article while walking.
For more information on boosting your creativity visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/creativity.shtml
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WRITE BETTER; WRITE FASTER; WRITE IT RIGHT! Discover a simple five-step process for creating flawless written text.
Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like The Pros shows you how! $17.95 + s/h.
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THE WRITE SITES
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Warning about Helium
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Before you consider writing for this site, do check out the problems a contributor at Writing-World had.
http://tamilynnk.tripod.com/JustSayNO/
Rhymer.com
---------------
A free online rhyming dictionary for poetry and song lyrics. Specify end rhyme, beginning rhyme, double rhymes etc.
http://www.rhymer.com/
Technical Writing Online Textbook
---------------------------------
If you've ever wanted to get into technical writing, this book will teach you all you need to know.
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/textbook/ What Makes a Good Short Story
------------------------------
Intriguing site, which takes you through the short story 'A Jury of Her Peers' and shows you how to explore the story elements
and structure. A very useful guide to successful short story structure.
http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/index.html
Daily Writing Tips Forum
------------------------
A free to join writing forum where you can post questions and swap hints on grammar, punctuation, spellings, misused words,
freelance and fiction writing. Useful main site too.
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/
Horror Writer's Association
---------------------------
Articles on how to improve your horror writing by members of this professional association.
http://www.horror.org/writetips.htm
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WORLDWIDE FREELANCE WRITER - You can download a free list of writing markets if you subscribe this week. Discover
almost 2,000 writing markets from USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australasia.
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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BOOK REVIEWS: Writer's Market UK 2009 and The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (and how to avoid them) by
Jack M Bickham.
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By Dawn Copeman
There is a vast array of books aimed at the writer. Market guides, how-to books, workbooks, writing prompts. It can be hard to
decide where to spend our hard-earned cash. So, I've decided to trial a new feature whereby I'll review some of the books aimed at
writers and hopefully, help you to decide if this is a book you could use. I've started with a market guide and a how-to. I hope this
helps.
Writer's Market UK 2009
------------------------
I was a bit apprehensive when I got my copy of Writer's Market UK 2009; could it measure up to the success of the first
edition, which in my opinion, was the best guide to writer's markets in the UK and far more comprehensive than any of the other
guides? I needn't have worried, the new edition is even better than the last. This book contains all a writer needs to know about the
state of publishing in the UK. It has a complete listing of all the current markets for writers and for many entries it also provides tips
on how to sell to that particular magazine. Unlike many other guides, it also provide in-depth listings for television companies, radio
stations and theatres as well as information on writing groups, writing organisations, writing courses, competitions, literary agents
and writing grants. It also provides an impressive list of writing resources, both on and offline including information on reference
and specialist libraries. The 26 articles at the front of the book have been written by experts in their field and cover a wide variety of
topics of interest to both the novice and more experienced writer including writing crime fiction, writing the short story, poetry,
children's fiction, writing for the web, understanding contracts and an overview of the publishing process for works of fiction and
non-fiction. This book is my most-referred to text and if you could only buy one writing book this year, then this should be the one.
"The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)" by Jack M Bickham
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I must begin by saying that I'm not a confident fiction writer. I try, and if you really want to, you can see some of my attempts
in the Team Short Story Section at the forum, but I'm still a complete beginner in this area. But as I want to finish my novel and get it
published, I decided I needed to get some help.
This book is by far the best guide I've read for the novice fiction writer. Written by the author of over 75 published novels, who
is also a creative writing tutor, the advice in this book is both relevant and comprehensive. What's more it is the most easy to read,
'how to write' books I have ever read. Each chapter, which last no more than four pages, deals with a specific major error committed
by novice writers. The errors are clearly marked and Bickham gives easy to follow, practical advice on how to correct them in your
current work in progress or how to prevent them in future. It should be at the side of every fiction writer, whether they are writing
short stories or novels. It should stay by your side too; this is not a book to read once, but one to refer to constantly, to ensure you are
not falling into bad habits.
I strongly recommend this book.
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CAN'T GET PUBLISHED? Be a Well-Fed Self-Publisher and make a living! Control the process and timetable. Keep the
rights AND most of the profits. Here's the step-by-step blueprint used to create a full-time living from ONE book! By the
award-winning author of The Well-Fed Writer.
http://www.wellfedsp.com.
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FEATURE: Do Werewolves Wear Shoes?
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By Shaunna Privratsky The horror genre is often described as gory, bloody and violent, usually
with a disparaging shake of the head. Indeed, some writers use meaningless violence or bloodshed as shock value. This approach is
horrifying, but not in the way the author intended.
True horror writing is more about atmosphere and emotion. Just like any other genre, horror authors must develop characters,
plot twists and dialogue for a successful story. Yet he or she must go a step further, into the murky areas of the unknown.
Fans of the horror story read for thrills and chills, but they want a good story, too. Remember that readers are willing to
suspend their belief and knowledge of the "real" world, but you must give them a reason to read. Start with a killer hook. And no, I
don't mean that literally, although it could make a spine-tingling story...
A spooky tale is dependent upon a hook intriguing enough to draw the reader into your world, whether it is filled with ghosts,
goblins or things that slither and scream in the night. You might begin with a weird occurrence, or start out "normally" and introduce
the horror elements insidiously, like a wisp of warning smoke that builds to a blaze.
Setting can add tremendously to the horror story in the hands of a skilled scribe. A few lines of well-placed description should
send shivers up the spines of your readers. Remember not to overdo it, though. Anything that stops the flow of the story loses points
with editors and more importantly, your readers. No matter how entertaining, a story can't thrive on description and setting alone.
Pick vivid details by using all of the senses and choosing the most pertinent. Your characters might be ghosts, witches, werewolves
or vampires. Despite your character's otherworldly attributes or powers, you must still make the reader identify with the players in
your story. Give them human emotions or characteristics. They don't have to be likable to be popular, however. Anne Rice's
ever-successful hero, the Vampire Lestat, seems to be an egotistical jerk, yet I still buy all of Anne's books and read them voraciously.
There are plenty of ways to instill charisma into your subject. Give them names, appearances, mannerisms, vocabulary,
emotions and actions that make them distinctive to the reader. The choice of names can send an unconscious message or meaning.
"Bambi" brings to mind an expendable victim; while "Barbara" gives the impression that this girl might be smart enough to survive.
You probably wouldn't choose "Agatha Krunk" as the name of your lovely young heroine. Yet it would make the perfect handle for
your vicious villainess.
Try not to assign similar sounding names to characters. For example "Edward" and "Eddie" may be confused or "Marie" and
"Mary", especially if they are similar in appearance. Anything that puzzles the reader or makes an editor scratch her head detracts
from your story.
Your character's description is as important as their name. Never go overboard; less is more, as the saying goes. Give telling
details but don't dwell on them overlong. Use description to evoke a sense of the broader culture or background. Avoid the use of
mirrors as if you were a revenant fearful of being trapped in its depths.
If you want your characters to "breathe", give them real emotions, even if they're not exactly acceptable. Let them screw up or
think an unkind thought about how fat Uncle Randolph is getting since he retired. The reader needs to empathize with the subjects.
Believe it or not, your main character should have the least description. Why? Because you want the reader to imagine
themselves in the same situation, even if they are a different nationality, have different hair or eye colors, or even if they are the
opposite sex. Constantly stressing the hero's blue eyes, blonde hair and bulging muscles reminds a raven-haired female that she
doesn't fit into the story.
The best characters are those that linger in our memories like old friends long after we've turned the last page. By using some
or all of these techniques, you can create a charming cast of characters with charisma, no matter if they are ghosts, vampires or shape
shifters.
Speaking of unearthly characters, do werewolves wear shoes? Only you can decide as you craft a horror tale in your world and
with your rules. Yet you must make it believable. You don't want to travel so far outside the range of human experience that your
audience stops reading in disbelief. On the other hand, you must stretch the mundane and add a fantastical twist to your horror tale.
Just because your story deals with the paranormal, don't skimp on the details. A publishable horror tale has all the elements of
exemplary fiction. In addition to setting, description and characters, you need a situation or plot as well as conflict and resolution.
Stringing together a few spooky scenes or an axe murder or two does not constitute a publishable tale.
To be successful in the horror genre, you have to read in that genre. Otherwise you won't know what's already been done to
death and your submissions will get rejected. Don't write in an unfamiliar genre just to get an "easy sale."
You have to enjoy immersing yourself in dream worlds and let yourself believe, if only for a little while, in witches, trolls,
ghoulies and that nameless, dreaded thing that appears over and over in half-forgotten nightmares. Once you discover the underlying
structure of well-crafted horror writing, you will be able to write stories guaranteed to scare the socks off the next editor who reads it.
So, do werewolves wear shoes? Of course! When they are in human form, werewolves look just like you or me. Well, perhaps
a bit hairier, especially as the moon nears its fullest phase.
The next time you have a vivid nightmare or become inspired by something that only comes out at night, write it down and
you'll be well on your way to scaring up a sale. Happy haunting!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Copyright (c) 2008 by Shaunna Privratsky
Shaunna Privratsky is a fulltime author with over 400 published articles as well as the editor and publisher of The Writer
Within Newsletter. Learn 1,000's of more writing tips in Shaunna Privratsky's book, 'Pump Up Your Prose' $ FREE sign up to The
Writer Within Newsletter at
http://shaunna67.tripod.com" We're a paying market!
For more information and advice on writing horror, fantasy or speculative fiction writing visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/sf/index.shtml
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COMING UP in THE NEXT ISSUE OF WRITING-WORLD...
=================================================
Nonfiction
-----------
Sean McLachlan will definitely teach us how to read our piles of 'how to write' books.
Fiction
--------
Shaunna Privratsky is back again, this time looking at how to craft compelling fiction
Plus your answers to the Inquiring Writer and in my quest to become a better fiction writer I will review the "You Can Write a
Novel Kit" by James V. Smith Jr.
Your next issue will appear in your inboxes on July 3rd.
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RECOMMENDED WRITING CLASSES
*************************************************
TheFictionWritersJourney.com is the website of writing coach and novelist, Emily Hanlon. Emily demystifies the writing
process with her two pronged approach of teaching technique and unleashing creativity. She offers coaching, workshops, and
TeleSeminars and is holding a weekend retreat in Litchfield, CT May 2-4. Emily also offers two Mentoring Programs: Creativity as A
Wellspring of Life and Writing Your Story, Creating a Tapestry of Your Life: Memoir Writing as a Healing Journey. If you are
looking for help on writing technique or unleashing your creativity, explore these TeleSeminars from Emily Hanlon, now 50% off.
http://www.thefictionwritersjourney.com/Journey_Into_the
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WRITING CONTESTS
=====================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Unless otherwise indicated, competitions are open to all adult writers.
BRITISH & SLOVAK WRITING COMPETITION
-------------------------------------
DEADLINE: June 30, 2008 GENRE: Short Stories and Nonfiction DETAILS: Original writing relating to (a) the links
between Britain and the Czech and Slovak Republics, or (b) describing society in transition in the Republics since the Velvet
Revolution in 1989. Entries should be in English and of 1,500 to 2,000 words. PRIZE: 1st prize £300; 2nd prize £100. Winning
entries published in the British Czech & Slovak Review. URL:
http://www.bcsa.co.uk EMAIL:
prize@bcsa.co.uk
HILLERMAN MYSTERY COMPETITION
---------------------------
DEADLINE: July 1, 2008 GENRE: Books OPEN TO: Authors with No Published Books: The Competition is open to any
professional or non-professional writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been the author of a published mystery, and is not
under contract with a publisher for publication of a mystery. DETAILS: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of
the story, and emphasis is on the solution rather than the details of the crime. The story's primary setting is the Southwestern United
States, including at least one of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
Minimum 220 pages/60,000 words PRIZE: $10,000 advance against royalties URL:
http://tinyurl.com/6gxkdp EMAIL:
wordharvest@wordharvest.com
RICHARD J MARGOLIS AWARD
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DEADLINE: July 1, 2008 GENRE: Nonfiction DETAILS: Submit at least 2 articles, total 30 pages max PRIZE: $5000
stipendium and Month-long residency at the Blue Mountain Center, a writers' and artists' colony in the Adirondacks in Blue
Mountain Lake, New York. URL:
http://www.margolis.com/award/ EMAIL:
harry@margolis.com
THIN THREADS STORY COLLECTION CONTEST
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DEADLINE: July 1, 2008 GENRE: Nonfiction DETAILS: True stories of 1200 words or less. Topics will include: Thin
Threads(TM) of: Survival, Romance, Opportunity, Sport Success, Courage, Leadership & Innovation, Forgiveness, Motherhood,
Fatherhood, Patriotism, Business Success and any other story that offers hope from a Thin Thread(TM) moment. PRIZE: $100 and
publication URL:
http://tinyurl.com/6ndpxd EMAIL:
Thinthreads@kiwipublishing.com.
TELL TALE PRESS WRITING CONTEST
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DEADLINE: July 10, 2008 GENRE: Short Stories DETAILS: 2000 words max short story completing one of the openings on
the website. Or a story about any of the Tell Tale Press characters or places. PRIZE: $200 in US savings bonds or $100 cash prize
for non-US citizens URL:
http://www.telltalepress.net/contest/index.html EMAIL:
info@telltalepress.net
GLIMMER TRAIN STANDARD SHORT STORY
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DEADLINE: July 31, 2008 GENRE: Short Stories DETAILS: 12,000 words max. No minimum word count, but rare for
pieces of less than 500 words to read as a story. Max 3 submissions per author. Online submissions preferred. PRIZE: $700,
publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of that issue. URL:
http://glimmertrain.com/test.html
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AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: Books by Our Readers
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A Book About Pub Names, by Elaine Saunders
Omnibus, by Sheri McGathy
Out of Time, by Cliff Ball
Unleash Your Writing Muse, by Tamara Hanson
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http://www.writing-world.com/books/listyours.shtml
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